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One sSunday alternoon, a worman was st

tmg upon the threshold of one of these Tl huts, which stood against the rock, near the Fler har was hidden by acoarse searl

L, twisted round it her face was worn and old-lookimg, and contrasted with her girlish houre. Deep lines crossed her Torchead, and drew down with a mournful expression the corners of Tier lips.

The sun was sinkig at the horizon. Great shadows already wrappod the highest sum- mits: but flood of hving lizht bathed the valley and the forest pies. A cloud of fhes, of butterflics and bees, whirled dizzily i the sunhight. The solitary girl saw

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nothing of this charming land- scape. Hereyes were fixed upon @ man’s shabby jacket which she was darning. This work ap- peared to be particularly dif- ficult to her, for 1f the coarse and horny hand that awkwardly held the needle was examined, 1t was casy Lo see that Il was o accus- tomed to handle the hoe and spade.

Suddenly the young womans attention was attracted by the sound of footsteps. She Tifted her head, and - perecived aman of miserable aspect advancing towards the cabin,

He was shight and insignificant in figure, and was clothed in an old military coat with flapping skirts, too loose and too long for him. Asoldier's cap, blue and greasy, was pulled down over his forchead to his cyes. He staggered as he walked, though to sustain himself he leant upon a knotty stick, and

IS THIS HUT NUMBER 77

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though the livtde sack which he carried sluny across his back appeared almost cmpty. He approached timidly, and Tooked helplessly at the young girl out of his weak cyes.

Cs this hot Number 727 he asked, in falterimg tone.

“Ves, this isal” she replied, with the harsh accent peculiar to the Germans of Coentral Bohemia, = What do vou want ?”

1 have heen sent here Lo work.” And, as he spoke, he showed her a paper which he held in his hand.

The youny gl serutinized the strange cos- tume of her questioner, and his thin white face with it straggling beard,

“The over- seer 1s not here at present,” she satd - at last “Hce has gonce down to the tavern at Schott- wein with the men. Rest your- scll whilst you wait, 1l you arc

tired.” She cast a last glance

upon the poor creature, who appearcd to he i suffering, and then returned to her mterrupted work, drawing the nceedle with renewed haste.

The soldier didd not reply. He dragged himsell a Tittle larther away, and Tet himsell fall upon the arass with o great sich of weariness. He lay there at full Tength, whilst the sun sank more - and - more at the horizon, pour- g over the whole seene its liquid golden heht. A deep silence reigned. Far above m the azure sky a solitary vulture whecled, uttering its piercing cry. Very soon from the distance came the bellowing of drunken vorees. The girl trembled,